Making the announcement this morning, Minister O'Keeffe said: 'Building work is expected to get under way shortly on the new multi-million euro 4,000sq/m project."

It is expected that the project will generate about 150 construction jobs.

"The new medical school, which will accommodate up to 288 graduate students, will have dedicated laboratories, facilities and equipment located in the university's "health education village" where physical resources can be shared.

"UL is now tendering for a contractor to build the project and construction is expected to be finished by the end of next year.

"UL's medical school has been operating since 2007 and this new building will, for the first time, provide dedicated facilities for graduates to train in medicine on the campus.

"The medical school, which last year attracted 50 full-time graduate students for the four-year programme, will target innovative learning and provide space and courses for general practitioner training.

"The school is expected to offer new post-graduate research programmes when it's fully operational," said Minister O'Keeffe.

The new graduate medical school building in the University of Limerick (UL) is among the projects that will start construction this year as part of the Government's €200 million building plan.

He said the €200 million investment demonstrates the importance the Government attaches to strategic national infrastructure projects in higher education.

"The investment targets core undergraduate facilities and the growth and expansion of our research capacity in the building of the knowledge economy."

"Despite the severe economic conditions, we're continuing our programme of investment in upgrading and modernising our universities, institutes of technology and other colleges," said Minister O'Keeffe.

Other building projects to take place under the scheme include: the redevelopment of the St Patrick's College of Education in Drumcondra, Engineering building in NUIG, a Library extension in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and a Law School in the National University of Ireland, Dublin.